It seems like a lifetime ago since Jason Arnott played with the Edmonton Oilers.

But when you consider the Nashville Predators captain recently suited up for his 1,000th NHL game, perhaps it was.

"Only a few hundred guys have done it and it's just been an honour to be in the league, it's just done so much for me and my family," Arnott said prior to last night's game against the Oilers. "I've had a lot of fun, had a lot of great memories and made a lot of great friends. I have no complaints at all about my career."

Arnott, 34, was originally the Oilers first pick - seventh overall - in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. The Collingwood, Ont., native played over five seasons with the Oilers before being traded to the New Jersey Devils midway through the 1997-98 campaign where he went on to win the Stanley Cup, scoring the cup-clinching goal against the Dallas Stars.

"I have to hand it to Glen Sather and thank him for letting me start my career here," Arnott said. "There's a lot of great history here and growing up when I was a kid, that's who we followed was the Edmonton Oilers.

"To play here and start my career here is a great honour. I had a lot of fun and made a lot of great friends out here. That will always be in my mind and something I'll always take with me."

Arnott played five seasons with the Devils before being traded to the Stars and eventually signed as a free agent with the Predators.

Heading into last night's contest, the six-foot-five, 220-pound centre led the team with 13 goals on the season.

"Arnie has grown a lot in the last two years ever since he's taken over the captaincy," said Predators head coach Barry Trotz. "Even the things he says have a big impact in the room because he has a lot of respect in the room because he's our top forward."